The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1887-02-26
Thd dqualtera. I770-1ss7

which are full Of heroic memories and, o
these our Washlngton's Headquarters
is one.
!, Like the great commander, who once
lodged within its walls, the structure has
i a nobility of presence worthy OF its his
4 tory, and the ia years it has stood be-
loved landmark to every patriot. am
proud Of my membership In the AS,
ISOLATION which owns this grand old
i heirloom Of the Iseyolution; and ON the
i 155th commemoration OF Washington's
birthday took more than common de.
Hight in visiting the place. entered
/ by the same old double-door that opened
and shut for the wise patriot leader
and his generals in that never-to- be-for.
gotten winter of ITO On passing
through the wide old hall, each foot
step awoke the echo of an old time
story. and memory unconsciously re-
called those lines Of Dryden SO de-
scriptive OF Washington:
Mark his majestic fabric he's temple
Sacred by birth and built by hands divine
| HIS souls the Deity that lodges there;
| Nor is the pile unworthy of the god =
| Being of stature over six feet, perfectly
erect and of marked dignity of bearing
and nobility of presence, such words
seem not inappropriate to the man.
How pleasant the old time mansion
looked in the bright sunlight, and how
interested the hundreds of visitors SEEM
ed to be in every single relic or memento
OF those !" days that tried mems souls"
OF the collection are 20 different pieces
lof furniture which General Washington
and his wife are known to have actually
used when here as the guests OF Mrs
Ford in the Winter of TITO and 1880; and
these, with the old Watts Psalm book
which the former used when attending
service in the church which preceded the
present one on the Green, commanded
particular notice and attention. So
also did the Commission appointing
Washington Communicating chief, which
latter is dated Philadelphia, June 10Th,
1775, and signed "John Hancock, PRESS
dent of the Fourteen United Colonies !"
The words " Full power to act as you
shall think best for the good and welfare
of the service" reminded me forcibly
how more fully than any could have
foretold had the great patriot fulfilled
the command and liberated nation.
| In the parlor where hangs the com
mission, Mrs. Martha Washington (the
woman so eminently worthy to be the
wife of SO illustrious man) held her New
Years reception in that memorable winter
of 1880 While her guests came dressed
in silks and ruffies, "they were surprised
Says the historian Lossing) to find their
hostess habited in a very plain gown
made of home made stuff, white 'ker-
chief covering her neck and bosom, a
neat cap and No ornament but a plain
gold wedding ring. While with her right
hand she gave each kindly greeting, in
| her left hand she held halfknit stock
Ing, the ball of yarn laying in an out
side pocket hanging at her side" When
seated she piled her needles necessarily
knitting socks for no: only her husband
but the poor soldiers camped amid the
SHOWS Of an almost artic winter, talking
much also as she worked of the great
sufferings OF the patriot army. thus af-
fording in mien and occupation a wise
rebuke to her idle, handsomely attired
visitors.
An incident so thoroughly character
Iistic OF the whole benevolent life Of that
most amiable and sweet voiced woman
can hardly be recalled too often as an
example for the wives and mothers Of
this present day ofcxtrayagance in action
as we'll as dress.
| The room at the southwest corner con-
tains, among other interesting articles,
the veritable writing desk or secretary
upon which the great General wrote
those letters so full of wisdom and heart
felt sympathy for his suffering country
and half starved army-letters too, which
went with such conviction and energiz-
Ing power to an American Congress and
vacillating governors. g No nobler figure
ever stood in the fore front of nations
| life" and it was in these days, the very
darkest just before the dawn, that the
character of the man was most severely
tried, and his great attributes as leader
of men made manifest. There were many
in that little room (some who had come
| from distant parts listening with grave
Interest to what | said as I sat before
that old desk, and talked about the meI
who once stood grouped about that ink
blotted, war-worn piece Of furniture
There was tue valiant soldier Nathanie
Green, Mad Anthony Wayne, the
stern dlsciplinarian Stueben, the polished
Kosciusko and brilliant Alexander
i Hamilton, the accomplished Sterling ant
i Noble Knox--a glorious band of abl'
and tried patriots worthy of the con-
fdence Of their great commander, anC
that he was unsurpassed as COM
mander--yes, as wise and skillfu
strategist--the whole account of thos'
shines that tried mems souls mos
i clearly prove.
il After the capture of Fort Washington
and the treachery OF Charles Lee, Wash
ington was forced to retreat across New
Jersey and to cross the Delaware. Thel
came reinforcements from Schuyler il
: the North and the long expected troop
of Lee at last arrived Washington thel
assuming the offensive made his eve
! famous night passage OF the Delaware
surprised the British at Trenton, ESCAPED
by mastery piece of generalship from
the trap in which CORVALLIS though
him caught, and marching north wen
into winter quarters here in Morristown
where he held in check the British arm,
at New York, thus ending brilliantly i;
campaign which had begun most dis.
astrously. Such was Washington as |
strategist, and it is the pride of ever,
Jerseyman that here within the radius o